Abstract
In this paper, the progresses of understanding of the enzymes application in hydrocarbon production from extensive experimental and field studies are reviewed. Enzyme enhanced oil recovery is an emerging method of improving oil production in an environmentally friendly way, but the mechanisms underlying this process are not clearly understood. Also, detailed studies on enzyme enhanced oil recovery applications are not readily available. From the comprehensive review carried out in this study, we observed that most of the works done on enzyme enhanced oil recovery processes were not properly detailed and the different experimental procedures adopted makes coherent understanding of the process difficult. Evident however in all the studies from the laboratory experiments and field applications, is the capacity of enzyme to improve oil production from both sandstone and carbonate rocks. Also, we have identified and highlighted the physicochemical properties of the enzymes commonly used for enhanced oil recovery and their effects on oil recovery process in order to improve the understanding of their applicability in relevant hydrocarbon reservoir. Furthermore, the challenges and future research directions for enzyme enhanced oil recovery applications have been pinpointed in this study. Having unfold the enhanced oil recovery potential of enzyme, a clarion call is thereby made for deeper studies on this emerging method of improving oil production. This study is relevant to the design and application of enzyme enhanced oil recovery process in both carbonate and sandstone reservoirs.
Highlights
Enzyme enhanced oil recovery is an emerging enhanced oil recovery (EOR) method
Wettability alteration from weakly oil-wet/neutral-wet to more water-wet condition was hypothesised as one of the possible factors that militated against positive effect of enzyme EOR applications in three of the four wells in carbonate reservoir studied by Jabbar et al [27]
Attention was paid on the physicochemical properties of enzymes, their EOR potentials as well as the possible mechanisms underlying their effective applications in hydrocarbon rocks
Summary
Enzyme enhanced oil recovery is an emerging enhanced oil recovery (EOR) method. A number of studies have reported positive effect of enzyme applications in both laboratory-scale and field-scale (e.g. [1,2,3,4,5]). A number of studies have reported positive effect of enzyme applications in both laboratory-scale and field-scale The mechanisms underlying this process are not clearly understood and detailed studies on enzyme enhanced oil recovery applications are not readily available. Enzymes are environmental friendly just like any other biological agents, but they have additional advantage of re-applicability due to their catalytic nature [6]. Enzyme production for EOR application has evolved over the years and different types of commercial products are available. A comprehensive review on recent applications of enzymes in oil recovery processes are presented in order to improve understanding of the process. The challenges and future research directions for enzyme enhanced oil recovery applications have been pinpointed
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